External Forces

The Marrowbone Spells, Book 2

By: Shannon Fay

Narrated by: Peter Kenny

A mage for the British royals matches wits with a power-mad old foe in a beguiling novel of enchantments and daring by Shannon Fay, author of Innate Magic.

London, 1958. By crafting magical outfits for his friend, Princess Katherine, cloth mage Paul Gallagher is getting ahead. It’s not a seamless path. Not since the Virtuis Party came to power. The far-right faction is using criminals to create a protective barrier around England. The enchanted uniforms the prisoners wear may beget a demand for mages, but using luckless convicts as tools for warmongering reactionaries isn’t Paul’s dream for cloth magic.

His road to success takes an even darker turn when the unexpected death of a member of the royal family plunges the country into chaos. The Virtuis Party is rising, its mysterious puppet master is gaining control, and Paul and his allies are prepared to do anything to protect the princess, the throne, and ultimately, the soul of the country. That means falling back on the innate magic Paul dreads using again. It’s illegal, dangerous, and so potent it can raise the dead.

But as the fate of the entire nation hangs by a thread, dire times call for extreme magic.

©2022 Shannon Fay (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Peter Kenny narrates an entrancing historical fantasy that propels an impulsive mage into the midst of political conflict.… Kenny transitions from accent to accent with aplomb, giving the colorful cast of characters unique and lively voices. He captures the dry wit of the prose while entertaining the ear with his attentive voice work. New listeners and series fans alike will fall under Paul's spell as he races to protect England and his own dark secrets.”—AudioFile Magazine

“Series fans will be eager to see what Paul and his equally delightful and eccentric friends are up to, and new readers will find it easy to jump in. This is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fay has written a thoroughly enjoyable magical thriller set in 1950s Britain. Readers can dip their toes into this installment without having read the first in the series, while Marrowbone fans will appreciate Paul’s new adventures.”—Library Journal

Twists and turns

It was an adventurous finish to the first book. Great read/listen!! Wish there was more, so I’ll be waiting to hear of a third!!